He was fully aware that she was only 15
Snapchat and other online apps(Image: PA)
A man sent hundreds of flirtatious messages to a 15-year-old girl – even after her mother told him to stop, a court heard. Nicholas Brackstone, 41, of Riley Way, west Hull, admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child, through a series of messages, between January 31 and October 23 last year and an offence of stalking between April 21 and 23 this year.
Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court that the girl that Brackstone communicated with was 15 years old. “He knew she was 15 years old,” said Mr Donnell.
The conversation was over Snapchat initially and, after a couple of days, it progressed to more suggestive language throughout November last year. Brackstone commented in one message “You have a massive tongue.”
He also recommended they keep the conversation to themselves. “The messages became more flirtatious,” said Mr Donnell. Brackstone commented on a see-through piece of clothing that she wore.
He offered to meet up with her but she reminded him that she was 15 years old. Brackstone sent her a 10-second sexualised video of himself in his boxer shorts.
When the girl told her mother, she told Brackstone to stop the communication. He was arrested in November. Despite being on bail, he continued to send messages to the girl.
He sent her more than 300 new messages. In April this year, she finally blocked him. There was an element of targeting by Brackstone, said Mr Donnell.
Rachel Scott, mitigating, said that the best rehabilitation for Brackstone would be in the community and agreed with a proposal to suspend a prison sentence. Brackstone had spent two months in custody on remand awaiting sentence.
Judge John Thackray KC told Brackstone: “You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself. You knew how young she was. You should consider yourself extremely fortunate, otherwise you would be serving a longer sentence.”
Brackstone was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, with six months’ drug rehabilitation and 20 days’ rehabilitation. He was given a seven-year sexual harm prevention order and a five-year restraining order. He will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and he will have to pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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